The Nutcracker is back across Hungary for 2025–2026, charming every generation with a story that asks whether we can settle for appearances or need to believe that everything has a soul to find happiness. Children remake the world through belief; adults relearn how to feel, not just see. A plain wooden figure trapped by a curse, a girl who spots a beating heart beneath painted grain, and a quest to break the spell—this is the seasonal heartbeat from Budapest to Szeged, Kecskemét to Győr. Tickets are online now, with prices converted and options ranging from intimate ballet school stagings to full orchestral scores and Royal Ballet screenings.
Budapest’s Big-Stage Magic
Budapest’s grandest runs unfold at 1061 Budapest, Andrássy út 22, between December 2 and December 30, then again from January 2–4 and January 6–8, and January 10–11, 2026. Tickets are listed at 120,000 HUF (about 328 USD). Additional performances land on December 5–9, 13–14, 16, 18, 20, and December 23–28. Across town, a reimagined classic at 1124 Budapest, Csörsz u. 18, plays on December 20 with seats from 7,900–9,900 HUF (22–27 USD). The Danubia Orchestra performs Tchaikovsky’s full ballet score on December 17 at Liszt Ferenc tér 8, tickets 9,900–11,900 HUF (27–32 USD). A Christmas concert titled The Nutcracker and the Melodies of the Holiday also lights up December 19 at Liszt Ferenc tér 8.
Screenings and Royal Ballet
The Royal Ballet’s filmed production screens on December 14 and December 20 at Ybl Miklós tér 2–6, tickets 3,500 HUF (10 USD), and again on December 25 at 1088 Budapest, Rákóczi út 21, at 4,900 HUF (13 USD).
Across the City’s Neighborhoods
Budafok-Tétény hosts Gulliver – The Nutcracker on December 3 at Nagytétényi út 31–33. On December 14, shows pop up in Szentendre (Pátriárka utca 7, 8,900 HUF—24 USD), Budapest’s 16th District (Hunyadvár u. 43/B, 4,800–5,600 HUF—13–15 USD), and an Advent special on Castle Hill. József Attila tér 4 welcomes Jewelry Ballet’s The Nutcracker on December 19 (2,000 HUF—5 USD). A one-act fairy-tale ballet at Haller u. 27 invites families on December 21. Budaörs stirs in chocolate with Chocolate Bar // The Nutcracker on December 22 (2,000–2,500 HUF—5–7 USD). The Operetta Theatre at Nagymező utca 17 runs December 18–21, 22–23, and 25–28 with seats at 25,200 HUF (69 USD). Another grand staging crowns December 23 at Jagelló út 1–3.
Beyond Budapest
Kecskemét’s The Nutcracker (Diótörő) plays December 6–7 and 20–21 at Deák Ferenc tér 1 (4,900 HUF—13 USD). Makó’s Varga Ballet Workshop (VargaBalett Táncműhely) performs on December 6–7 (3,500 HUF—10 USD). Győr presents Our Nutcracker – 13 dance schools on December 15–16 at Czuczor Gergely u. 7 (5,000–7,000 HUF—14–19 USD) and returns December 21 at Aradi Vértanúk útja 16 (7,200 HUF—20 USD). The Ballet Theatre of Székesfehérvár stages performances December 15–17 (1,400–3,500 HUF—4–10 USD). Szeged Contemporary Dance Company (Szegedi Kortárs Balett) performs in Szeged on December 17–18 (3,200–6,800 HUF—9–19 USD) and in Budapest on December 20–22 (Kis Rókus u. 16–20).
January Tour 2026
The tour rolls on: Szeged, January 3 at Felső Tisza-part 1–3 (12,000–23,000 HUF—33–63 USD). Szombathely, January 8 at Sugár u. 18 (10,500–17,000 HUF—29–46 USD). Kaposvár, January 10 at Arany János u. 97 (9,800–16,000 HUF—27–44 USD). Eger, January 13 at Hatvani Kapu tér 4. Miskolc’s Generali Arena (Generali Aréna), January 14 (10,500–16,250 HUF—29–44 USD). Veszprém, January 15 (11,250–21,000 HUF—31–57 USD). Győr, January 17 (10,500–17,500 HUF—29–48 USD). Budapest’s Dózsa György út 1 on January 18 closes with 13,000–24,000 HUF (36–66 USD).
Organizers reserve the right to change dates and programs.
